Question 259 of 433
What do the human studies show?
The short answer
Not much yet. Low weekly doses appear reasonably safe over a year, with only hints of benefit.
An earlier set of studies found that a related drug improved older adults’ response to the flu vaccine. The largest longevity-focused trial, called PEARL, gave 114 adults aged 50 to 85 either a placebo or 5 or 10 milligrams of rapamycin once a week for 48 weeks. It missed its main goal: belly fat did not change. Women on the higher dose gained some lean mass and reported less pain. Serious side effects were similar across groups. The rapamycin used was a compounded form that is absorbed less well than the pharmacy version, so the real dose was lower than it sounds.
That is the whole of it. No trial has shown that rapamycin extends life or prevents disease in healthy people.
“This book is for education. It is not medical advice, and reading it does not make you my patient or create a doctor-patient relationship.” From the book’s medical disclaimer. Full disclaimer
SMALL HUMAN TRIAL — Healthy older adults: PEARL primary outcome negative; subgroup signals are exploratory.Evidence grade (draft mapping)BLimited or small human studiesPart 18, Q259 · Part sources
From Longevity Unmasked by Afshine Ash Emrani, MD, FACC. Medical disclaimer. This book is for education. It is not medical advice, and reading it does not make you my patient or create a doctor-patient relationship. Nothing here is meant to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Medicine is personal: a test, drug, supplement, or exercise plan that helps one person can harm another. Do not start, stop, or change any medication or treatment because of something you read in these pages. Talk with a licensed clinician who knows your history first. If you think you are having a medical emergency, call 911. The author disclaims responsibility for any loss or harm arising from use of the information in this book.